Sheet material delivery means



Dec. 5, 1950 F. o. TRUMP 2,533,134

' SHEET MATERIAL DELIVERY MEANS s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 INVENTOR FREDERICK O. TRUMP D 1950 F. o. TRUMP 2, 33,

SHEET MATERJIAL DELIVERY MEANS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR FREDERICK O. TRUMP BY WW AT TORNEYs Dec. 5, 1950 F. o. TRUMP 4 SHEET MATERIAL DELIVERY MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 INVENTOR. FREDERICK 0. TRUMP ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1950 SHEET MATERIAL DELIVERY MEANS Frederick 0. Trump, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to General Aniline & Film Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,320

7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for delivering sheet material, and to a system for selectively effecting so-called front or rear delivery. The invention is illustrated and described by reference to one particular type of printing and developing machine, but it is to be understood that it applies to all machines of that type and of similar nature, either for printing, developing, or for both.

It is an object of the invention to devise mechanism for readily shifting delivery of sheet material from one direction to another, for example, shifting from front delivery in the machine to rear delivery, and vice-versa.

It is a further object of the invention to devise mechanism which shall be a part of conveying means for advancing prinmd or developed material and which shall function upon change of position or upon shifting certain guiding mechanism over which some portion of the conveying means travels.

A further object of the invention is to devise conveying means and shifting means therefor which shall function effectively to direct delivered, printed material selectively in either direction, but which shall have no adverse effect upon the said material, such as a tendency to wrinkle or to scratch or otherwise damage its sensitized surface.

It is a further object to effect front and rear delivery of printed or developed material by mechanism shiftable during operation of the machine so long as change of position is made between two consecutively delivered sheets.

It is a further object of the invention to construct a front and rear delivery mechanism which shall be adjustable in one position for a purpose hereinafter to be more thoroughly described.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sheet delivery means which shall take advantage of the condition of the material and its natural tendencies to curl away from the side to which the developing vapors are applied.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one preferred embodiment of the invention and certain modifications thereof.

In machines for printing and/or developing sheet material, such as sensitized diazo-type papers and the like, delivery of the material is sometimes more conveniently effected at the front of the machine, especially for smaller sized sheets, and at other times, as with larger sheets, delivery at the rear of the machine may be more desirable. Heretofore, it has been possible to effect delivery at either the front or rear of such machines, but to change from one to the other, it has generally been necessary to stop the machine and to effect a change of certain parts whereupon the machine may be restarted and delivery will thereafter be effected in accordance with the desires of the operator. To change back to the original direction of delivery requires similar stopping and substitution of appropriate parts. According to the present invention, certain of the conveying means by which the material is advanced through the machine at a predetermined rate are guided or passed about means including rollers, one of which is preferably driven and which are shiftable as to their position. The shifting of position for these guiding rollers has no noticeable effect on their driving mechanism which is positively operable at all times.

When the shiftable means hereinafter to be described in detail occupies one particular position, the material will be delivered in one direction, e. g., to the front of the machine, Upon shifting said means to its opposite or other extreme position, it then becomes effective in conjunction with certain supplementary conveying devices which have become engageable with the delivered material, to alter the course of the material and to 'deliver it in the opposite or some other direction, e. g., toward the rear of the machine.

By providing a mechanism in which the direction of travel for the sheet material advancing and guiding means is selectively caused to assume either a straight line direction or a curved direction, advantage is taken of the condition of the material. sensitized material, such as employed in these machines, has a definite tendency to curl away from the side to which the develop ing vapors are applied. While the process is termed a dry development, the material is, of course, actually in contact at one side with the developing vapors. The term dry is a relative one and there is present during the development a degree of humidity necessary to insure proper chemical reaction. The humidification of the sensitized material is confined to one side and is so slight that, for all practical purposes, the material may be considered dry after passing a few feet from the region of application of the vapor.

As a result of the tendency to curl, the sheet material tends to cling to the conveying means at its dry side. By radically changing direction of travel at the delivery point, the material is positively and forcefully caused to turn and to project from the machine rather than to follow the conveying means. Furthermore, the change of direction breaks the adhesion between the material and conveyors thereby obviating the tendency to resist discharge otherwise prevailing.

At rear delivery the conveying system travels in a relatively unchanging path at the front delivery point taking advantage of the tendency of the treated material to curl and to cling. At the point of rear delivery the material has dried and is separated from the conveying belts quite easily. No air jets, suction or mechanical pickoff means need be used at any point.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a section through a machine to which the invention has been applied, only so much of the machine being shown as is essential to illustrate the principles of the device.

Fig. 2 is a detail view on a more enlarged scale showing the mechanism in position to deliver toward the rear of the machine.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the device, the full-line position corresponding to front delivery, while the dotted-line position of certain parts is that which gives the rear delivery.

Fig. 4 is a second modification, the general arrangement being similar to that of Fig. 3 except that the development of the sensitized material is accomplished directly in contact with a developing chamber, whereas that of Fig. 3 employs an intermediate member.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing driving parts at the left-hand side of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a section through .part of the machine showing driving elements and other movable parts incidental to control.

Fig. 7 is detail View of driving elements at the right-hand side of the machine.

Now referring to Fig. 1, part of a combined printing and developing machine has been illustrated, only the upper or developing section being shown. It is to be understood that the invention may be employed in any machine of this type and that delivery may be effected after development or after printing, and that it is not necessary that both functions be performed in the same machine. The invention will be described by reference to one well-known machine having an outer casing generally indicated by numeral [9, a developing tank or chamber H in which ammonia vapors are vaporized and through openings in which said vapors pass to engage the sensitized surface of the material. According to one form of such machine, the sensitized material is conveyed between a chain or link-type belt i2 and a rubber impregnated sealing sleeve 3. The sealing sleeve passes about rollers l6, [5, I6, and H. The roller i? is positively driven in a manner hereinafter to be described, and the sleeve i3 is maintained under sufficient tension so that it is positively advanced at a predetermined speed in accordance with requirements for the particular machine, sensitized material, and other pertinent factors. The chain or other belt 42 is guided about the rollers i 3 and i3 and is positively driven by the roller 13. A tray 2d at the front of the machine receives the printed sheets or other material delivered by so-called front delivery. An opening at the front, upper part of the casing permits the operator to remove these prints at desired intervals. At the back of the machine, a table or other extension 2! is in position to receive printed matter delivered by so-called rear delivery.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 6, the roller I6 is carried by a shaft 22 fixed against rotation, but on which the roller is free to turn. This shaft 22 also serves for pivoting the arms 24 and 25 which carry additional spindles upon which certain driving gears and other elements rotate. The arm 2% and attached parts are counterbalanced by the weight 26, while arm 25 and attached mechanism are counterbalanced by a similar weight 21. At the outer or free end of arms 24% and 25, a shaft 28, on which is fixed the roller I7, is pivoted.

A gear it having fixed thereto the sprocket 36 is freely rotatable on the spindle 22 and is driven by a chain, part of which is illustrated at 3! and which is in turn driven at a predetermined timed relationship to other parts of the machine. Power is taken from another sprocket on some other positively rotated element. Shaft 28 has a gear 32 fixed thereto and rotated by the gear 29 through an idler 3-3 rotatable on the short spindle 34 intermediate the ends of arm 2%. As the structure carried by arms 2t and '25 is tipped or swung about its center, that is, about the shaft 22, the spindle 28 is still driven in timed relationship to other parts of the machine, except for a slight amount of planetary action, that being something which does not adversely affect the functioning of the mechanism. The tipping *or swinging of the arms 24 and 25 about shaft 22 is accomplished by a hand lever 35 pivoted at 35 and to which is connected a more or less vertically extending link (-35 having at its upper end a connecting piece 2? which is constituted as a bearing engageable about the extending end of the shaft 28. The lever '35 is movable to extreme positions and any suitable means, such as notches within a slot may be employed for retaining the mechanism in its intended terminal positions. Similarly, additional notches hold it in intermediate positions.

In bearings within the machine frame, 'or within certain plates 38 and 39, forming parts of the machine frame, is pivoted a shaft do which carries a smaller roller ii for driving and guiding a series of belts or tapes, the function of which will presently be more thoroughly described. This shaft has spacing means provided for the separation and guiding of the belts or tapes. One series of such tapes designated by numeral 52 passes about the roller ii and about other rollers '43, Gel, and s5. These tapes bear against the top side of the sealing sleeve i3, and material to be delivered at the rear of the machine is guided and advanced between these tapes and the sleeve to be discharged by an arcuate memoer as having a lip ill which is of such shape and so located above the table 2! that material projected therefrom will be stacked or piled in a predetermined sequence.

This shaft 49 is driven through a number of gears, but the drive is primarily taken from the left side of the frame to the right by shaft 23 driven as above described and which has fixed at its right-hand end a gear es. This gear meshes with and drives an idler pivoted intermediate the ends of the arm 25, which in turn drives -a gear 59 freely rotatable on the shaft 22. This gear 553 is functionally integral with a larger gear 51 which meshes with and drives a smaller gear 52 at the end of the spindle which has fixed thereto the roller l8, the function of which was described above.

The drive is carried through the gear 50 to shaft 4% through a pair of idlers 53 and 54, the latter of which meshes with a pinion 55 fixed at the end of shaft it. It can be seen that the swinging of the arms 26 and. 25 merely carries with them gears 28 and as at the right side of the frame, and the gears 32 and 33 at the left, this having no effect on the drive for the shaft 23 nor for the driving of the shafts on which the rollers l8 and ii are carried. In Fig. '7, the dotted-line illustration of gears 43 and 59 shows their position for front delivery while the full-line position is that occupied when the device is delivering material at the rear of the machine.

Another set of tapes or belts '56 is also driven by the roller ll, these tapes being staggered or spaiced between the tapes 42. They also pass about rollers 57 and 58 which are freely pivoted in swinging brackets generally indicated by numoral These brackets are constituted by arms which extend between the pivots or rollers and projections 65] and 6! between which is a slot 62 bearing upon rollers or other circular elements adjacent the ends of the shaft 23. When the arms 2d and 25 are swung to difierent positions as described above, the brackets 59 are moved to and from the positions of Figs. 1 and 2. The cam action of the rollers at the ends of shaft 28 as they function in the slots 52 causes such movement.

The tapes 5%, when the brackets are in the position of Fig. l, have no effect on the material discharged from the machine, although they may be continuously driven by the roller 4|. Their movement is at that time merely an idle one. As the sheet material issuing from the developing chamber, or from a printer or other similar device, leaves the chain belt [2 and the sealing sleeve 53, it is discharged forwardly and somewhat downwardly as shown in Fig. 1 and will, upon release, drop into the tray 28. If continuous or strip material is being printed or developed, the operator may roll it as it issues from the ma.- chine or may dispose of it in any other satisfactory manner, the function of the mechanism itself being as described above. When the parts are moved to the position of Fig. 2 (rear delivery) the arms 2 and 25 are moved to their uppermost position, thereby straightening the end of the sealing sleeve so that it leaves or recedes from the chain belt G2 at an earlier point, considering the advance of said belt about its driving roller it, than in the event of front delivery. At the same time, the movement of the brackets 59 to the position of Fig, 2 causes the tapes 55 to assume an active position wherein they form more or less a continuation of the chain belt and follow along with the sealing sleeve from the point where the sleeve recedes from belt l2 to a point somewhat more than 90 about the roller H. In this position, material being advanced between the belt I2 and sleeve 53 is influenced by the tapes 56 so that it is guided between these tapes and the sleeve, passing up about roller H, or more correctly, with the sleeve as it is guided about that roller, until caught by the tapes 42. Such material is then carried down by the tapes a2 and sleeve 43 to be caught by the arcuate guide 46 and discharged on to the table 25 at the rear of the machine.

Now referring to Fig. 3, a modification is shown wherein the arms and guide means about which the sealing sleeve passes are not bodily movable, but wherein the change from front to rear delivery and vice-versa is effected by swinging of a single roller about its center pivot which is also a pivot for a tape driving roll. The modification furthermore differs in that it is not essential to provide a series of tapes in addition to those longer tapes which pass down and back toward the point of rear delivery. One set of tapes serves two functions.

The showing in this Fig. 3 is limited to such elements as are different from those of the previous and preferred embodiment described. Here a tank 33, chain belt 55, and sealing sleeve 65 all function similarly to corresponding parts previously mentioned except that the sealing sleeve is guided by rollers 66 and 6? pivoted in arms 68, the roller 6? preferably being driven. Since there is no necessity for swinging or otherwise moving these parts, the drive for roller 61 may be direct, thereby providing for no relative movement and cooperating driving gears between the rollers 66 and 61.

A plurality of tapes it pass over a roller iii, then about a second ro-ller H and a movable roller '12. These rollers ii and F2 are carried by E3 which pivot about the-center of roller ll The roller i2 may be driven by means similar to that described with respect to rollers i5 and H, Figs. 1 and 2, but it is preferred to drive these tapes by one of the other rollers, such as roll it? or a roller at the back of the machine (not shown) but similar to the roller M, Fig. 1. In fact, it is sufficient for these tapes to be driven by frictional contact with the sealing sleeve which is positively driven.

The position of the roller 72 is altered by any convenient hand-manipulated control, such as an extension at the end of the shaft about which the roller rotates, or by connecting linkage, such as the lever 34 and link 36, Figs. 1 and 2. If such linkage is used, its effective angle is so disposed as to produce the proper movement of arms 73, one such device being illustrated in this Fig. 3 and including a lever E i and link iii, the latter being attached to some convenient guiding means, such as the lever 35 previously described.

When the arms is have been swung outwardly so that the tapes assume the position shown by dotted lines or some similar inactive position, delivery of the material is similar to that described with respect to Fig. 1. When moved to the full-line position, Fig. 3, discharged prints or other sheet material are caught between the tapes just after they have passed about roller 72 and the sealing sleeve and will then be carried around and up over rollers 6? and to pass down and be ejected at the back of the machine as described with respect to Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 4, the mechanism of Fig. 3 is illustrated as it may be applied to that type of machine which has no intermediate advancing member, such as the mesh or link belt i2 or 6 1. In this event developed material is moved upwardly along the surface of developing chamber is and is then passed over a roller H to be discharged at the front delivery position if the mechanism is set as shown in dotted lines. If the tapes i8 are set for rear delivery, then the sheet material moving between roller 71 and the sealing sleeve i9 is caught by the run of the tapes passing about roller 86 and is, from that point, conveyed and discharged as described relatively to the form of the invention of Fig. 3. Of course, certain parts are driven to assure positive functioning of the sealing sleeve and tapes, and the roller 39 is to be swung from one 7 position to another all as described with respect to similar parts in Fig. 3.

When using the form of the invention of Figs. 1 and 2, an adjustment may be effected by intermediate settings of lever 34. During front delivery an adjustment of the setting so that the point at which the material is released by the belt E2 and sleeve I3 is varied, improves the angle of delivery and also gives an amount of control for causing the material to issue in ironed or smoothed condition.

The invention has been described by reference to certain types of printing and/or developing machines to which it may be applied. The principles involved are advantageously employed in all similar machines wherein sheet material, either in cut sheets or in substantially continuous lengths are to be delivered selectively to either one or another of two positions. The terms front delivery and rear delivery have been used since it is most frequently desired to discharge the material at either the front or back of a machine of the type. tis to be understood, however, that these terms are merely relative and that delivery might be switched from one side to the other, or in any two directions which are more or less opposed.

In each of the forms of the invention described the above-mentioned advantage taken of the tendencies of the humidified material is evident. At the front delivery point the pathway of the sealing sleeve is always angularly curved in the direction necessary to force the material to be projected out and away from its established path of travel. material is bent breaks its tendency to adhere to the carrier.

When set for rear delivery, the curvature of the carrier or sleeve is such as to take advantage of the materials tendency at the time. When it reaches the rear delivery point, it has become relatively dry and is directly discharged as the carrying means recede from it.

In forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, front delivery is similarly controlled, but for rear delivery, the auxiliary tapes prevent release at the front and extend the travel of the material as intended.

It is to be understood that the preferred embodiment and modifications herein described are more or less specific to a particular machine, but that is not to be interpreted in a limited sense. The general aspects of the machine may vary widely and specific details, such as the control elements, driving connections, and others may be similarly varied without departing from the broader inventive concept. While one pre embodiment and certain modifications oi the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for delivering sheet material, the combination of a first pair of superposed travelling means between which said material is conveyed, guiding means having two operating positions about which one of said travelling means passes, control means for changing the operating position of said guiding means from one to the other said positions, auxiliary The sharp curve through which the 8 travelling means operable to contact said material in one of said operating positions thereby causing said material to be delivered in a directio-n different than the direction taken by said material when said guiding means is in the other of said operating positions.

2-. In a device for delivering sheet material, the combination of means including a belt by which said material is conveyed, guiding means for said belt shiftable to at least two positions and control means to change the position of said guiding means, supplementary conveying means including a series of tapes driven in synchronism with said conveying means, said conveying means being shiftable to different positions in one of which it engages and alters the direction of delivery for said material, and in the other of which it has no contact nor effect thereon.

3. In a device for delivering sheet material, the combination of conveying means including a belt, means foi driving said belt and guiding means over which it passes including a freely rotatable roller and a driven roller, means for swinging said driven roller to different positions about the freely rotatab e roller as a center, a series of tapes driven in synchronism with said belt and means for altering the position of said tapes so that they wrap about the said belt at a position adjacent the driven roller and one point of discharge for said material so that the course of the material will be altered and its direction of delivery thereby selectively varied.

In a-device for delivering sheet material, the combination of material conveying means including a belt and guiding and driving means for said belt including a driven and a freely rotatable roller, arms pivoted at said freely rotat able roller and carrying means at their free ends upon which said driven roller rotates, driving means for said driven roller effective at any position of said roller as it is moved to different positions by changing the angular relationship of said arms, supplementary conveying means including a series of tapes, 2, dri ing roller for said tapes and guiding means therefor adjacent the driving means for said belt and brackets movable to diiierent' positions and supporting said guiding means eiiective when in one posi tion to wrap said tapes about a portion of said belt thereby to contact and guide the delivered mate-rial in cne'direction, but when in another position, being effective to remove said tapes from a position in which they afiect the discharge of sheet material.

5-. In a device for delivering sheet material, the combination of material conveying means nclud n a belt and guiding and driving means for said belt, said last-mentioned means includ ing a driven roller and a freely rotatable roller, pivoted at said freely rotatable roller and carrying means at their free ends upon which said driven roller rotates, driving meansior said driven roller including a driven gear centered at the pivot for said arms and interconnecting gears for transmitting power from said gear to the driven roller, supplementary conveying means including a series of tapes, driving means and guiding means for said tapes, a second series of tapes and guiding rollers over which said tapes pass, said rollers being supported by brackets movable in accordance with the position of said arms to different positions in one of which the said. tapes wrap about the belt as it passes said driving roller and cause material conveyed by the belt to continue along with said belt until engaged by said first-mentioned tapes, thereby to be conveyed between the belt and these tapes until discharged from the machine.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 further characterized by the fact that said brackets have projecting arms between which is a slot engageable With means adjacent the free ends of said arms.

7. In a device for delivering sheet material, the combination of material conveying means including a belt and guiding and driving means for said belt, said last-mentioned means including a driven roller and a freely rotatable roller, arms pivoted at said freely rotatable roller and carrying means at their free ends upon which said driven roller rotates, driving means for said driven roller including a driven gear centered at the pivot for said arms and interconnecting gears for transmitting power from said gear to the driven roller, supplementary conveying means including a series of tapes, driving means and guiding means for said tapes, and means REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 4,400 Hoe et a1 May 30, 1871 84,627 Hoe et al. Dec. 1, 1868 1,302,466 Finster et al. Apr. 29, 1919 1,608,930 English Nov. 30, 1926 2,375,241 Lindgren et a1. May 8, 1945 

